The Trump administration is pressing ahead with its plan to dismantle the Department of Education, and sources say it is using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to keep internal discussions secret.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced this week that most federal education programs and staff will be relocated to six other federal agencies, including the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.
But the full scope and timing of the reorganization remain unclear to the public, Congress, and education advocates.
Unusual Secrecy
The use of NDAs for senior officials and directors is considered unusual for the department, which has no national security role, according to sources. It is unclear how widely the agreements are being used or if this has happened before. One source said the goal is to prevent information from leaking outside the department.
A senior Education Department official defended the practice, saying NDAs are consistent with business and government practices and allow for careful deliberation between agencies and career staff.
Trump’s Campaign Promise
Dismantling the Education Department was a long-standing campaign promise of President Trump. During her confirmation, McMahon told senators that unwinding the department would require congressional approval.
On Thursday, McMahon said she has been speaking with lawmakers about the plans and urged Congress to codify the changes once complete.
“Our final mission as a department is to fully empower states to carry the torch of our educational renaissance,” she said at a White House briefing. “We are not ending federal support for education. We are ending federal micromanagement.”
Lawmakers Express Concern
Not everyone is convinced. Senator Patty Murray, top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, accused the administration of sabotage, saying:
“Like everything in this administration, they make a big announcement, they don’t work with all of us, there’s no transparency, they just behind the scenes are doing it.”
Some federal education employees have already started working at the Labor Department, and more are expected to relocate full time around January. Officials say there is no fixed timeline for all staffing moves.
Coordination Across Agencies
Education and Health Department officials met this week to discuss logistics and timelines for special education support programs as part of the transition.
While the administration presents this as reform, critics argue that the lack of transparency and congressional involvement raises serious concerns about how education policy is being reshaped behind closed doors.
